Find answers, get help Help & support

Common topics Explore our help guides on Metering

Our handy Help & Support hub gathers everything you need to know about managing your business energy in one place.

Check out some of our most popular articles.

Need more help?

If you still require assistance or would like to speak to a member of the team, please call us on 0161 837 3395.
Call centre currently closed

Common questions Metering FAQs

Our FAQs provide answers to commonly asked questions about who we are, what we do, our products, and how we work.

How can I access my consumption data online?

Your monthly invoice will always show the amount of energy you consumed in that month, and you can access a particular month’s meter data online at any time free through our customer portal, My SEFE Energy.

For customers using a smart device, you can also access up to 12 months of free smart device data at the click of a button. Just log into My SEFE Energy, select your account and site details, navigate to the ‘AMR and Smart Metering’ tab and click ‘Download report’.

 

How is a gas meter reading converted to kWh?

This depends on whether the gas meter is metric (i.e. measures in cubic metres) or imperial (i.e. measures in cubic feet). For a metric meter, the calculation is as follows:
(End Read – Start Read) x Calorific Value x Correction Factor*) / 3.6 = kWh

*Correction Factor is an allowance for your unique location and meter type. Your correction factor is shown on your invoice.

For an Imperial meter, the calculation is as follows:
(End Read – Start Read) x Calorific Value x Correction Factor * 2.83) / 3.6 = kWh

I would like to have a smart meter installed. How do I get one?

If you’ve already received a letter or email from SEFE Energy offering you a smart meter, all you need to do is contact us 0161 837 3392 to progress.

Alternatively, you can contact smartmetering@sefe-energy.com or opt-in using the link on the email you’ve been sent.

If you haven’t yet received a communication from us, you can register your interest here.

Following this, we’ll pass your details on to our smart meter providers, who will contact you to arrange an installation date.

I have a smart meter but have just received an email to provide meter readings. Why is this?

We will sometimes email you to request a meter reading, even if you have a smart meter installed. This is to ensure the meter is still working correctly and so that you’re only billed to your actual usage.

Once your account has been updated, your bill will be generated based on readings from your new smart meter.

I have a smart meter, but a meter reader has come to take a reading. Why is this?

This can sometimes occur while your account is being updated with your new smart meter information. To ensure your meter is working correctly, we also arrange check readings and/or maintenance visits to take place.

How can I provide a meter reading?

So we can provide you with more accurate energy bills, make sure to submit your meter reading(s) to us each month, on or before the 5th. That way, we can capture your accurate energy usage in time for our next billing run.

The easiest way to provide us with your latest meter reading is to submit it online through our customer portal, My SEFE Energy. This is also where you can download invoices, helpful documents, change your contact details and much more. 

Alternatively, you can get submit your meter readings to our Customer Services team directly, by emailing enquiries@sefe-energy.com along with your SEFE Energy Account Number or the Meter Point Reference (MPR). You can find both of these numbers on your latest bill.

You can find more information about meter readings in our Help & Support section here.

How can I submit an opening read at the start of my contract with SEFE Energy?

A gas opening meter reading is important for a few different reasons. Not only does it provide us with a start point, but by getting things right now, we’ll avoid potential issues in the future. Your opening read needs to be submitted up to 10 working days after your supply goes live.

If you have a smart meter or Automated Meter Reading (AMR) device, you should still provide an opening read. Opening reads can be provided through the My SEFE Energy online portal or via the AMR Team at amr@sefe-energy.com.

If we don’t obtain an opening read, we’ll use an Industry Estimated Read (MBR) instead, which could cause issues with your invoices and possibly result in a Shipper Agreed Read (SAR) dispute with your previous supplier. If you have any queries regarding your opening meter read, then you can get in touch with us at: amr@sefe-energy.com or through our online contact form here.

Am I eligible for a smart device?

Gas customers:

All of our gas customers are eligible for free smart device, either a smart meter or, for large businesses, an Automated Meter Reading (AMR) device.

Interested? You can request this by contacting us on 0161 837 3371 or emailing amr@sefe-energy.com.

Small businesses can opt in to receive a smart meter here.

Electricity customers:

All our non-half-hourly electricity customers are eligible to receive an AMR.

Half-hourly metering for larger sites is also automated. Any site that is currently read by someone visiting the meter can request a free AMR device by calling 0161 837 3392 or emailing dataflows@sefe-energy.com.

What is day and night meter reading?

If you have a 2-rate meter, also known as Economy 7, then you can view your energy usage through the day and night.

Which number is which can often vary from meter to meter. To help you distinguish one from the other, your meter might have these identifiers on the meter itself or it may say Normal or N (day) or Low or L (night) next to the readings. 

Other meters may only display day readings during the day and vice versa with night readings. Further still, the readings may also be listed as Rate 1 and Rate 2, or Rate 1 and Rate 4.

However this is marked on your meter, read each row from left to right, including any zeroes, and make sure to ignore any numbers after the decimal point or in red.

How do I get a new meter connection?

Electricity: Subject to an accepted supply contract being in place, we will aim to have your meter installed within 20 working days. This is indicative lead-time and is subject to the size of the supply and metering you currently have at site.

Gas: As with electricity, we would require a supply contract to be in place before we install your meter. Unlike electricity meters, gas meter installation times can vary greatly depending on the size of your supply and metering equipment required. We use our specialist service provider and meter asset manager, Energy Assets Limited (EAL) to organise the installation. EAL can also provide assistance with new supply requests.

The connection cost will depend on the size of supply and/or meter you wish to have installed. We, or EAL, will provide a quotation for works as appropriate.

Please contact our dedicated site services team on 0161 837 3371 or email us at geuksiteservices@sefe-energy.com for more information.

opens in new window